"Preservation of the Saints"

          A major theme throughout the Bible is God's sovereignty in salvation.
      We can not do anything to attain it, but must depend on God and His grace
     and mercy.

         
                                        "The salvation of the righteous comes from
                                          the LORD; He is their stronghold in time
                                          of trouble."
                                                                                  Psalm 37:39
                                                                                 


                                         "Salvation comes from the LORD."
                                                                                   Jonah 2:9b


                                         "For those whom God foreknew He also
                                          predestined to be conformed to the likeness
                                          of His Son, that He might be the firstborn
                                          among many brothers.
                                          And those He predestined, He also called;
                                          those He called, He also justified; those He
                                          justified, He also glorified."
                                                                                      Romans 8:29-30


          If our salvation can be gained through our actions, then our salvation can
     be lost through our actions.  Scripture teaches that this notion is not true.
     Salvation can not be lost by anything we do, because it comes from the new
     birth the Holy Spirit gives to His people.


                                        "Yet to all who received Him, to those who
                                          believed in His name, He gave the right to
                                          become children of God -- children born not
                                          of natural descent, nor of human decision, or
                                          a husband's will, but born of God."
                                                                                      John 1:12-13


          A key doctrine of Christianity is "perseverance of the saints,"  A saint
     is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ for salvation.  A saint is expected to
    "persevere" in his faith to the end, but he does so only with God's help.

          "Preservation of the saints," is probably more accurate term, because God
     keeps His children in Christ for all time.  God has chosen us, called us, redeemed
     us,  and saved us, through Jesus, and will never let us go.


                                       "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them,
                                        and they follow me.  I give them eternal life,
                                        and they shall never perish; no one can snatch
                                        them out of my hand.
                                        My Father, who has given them to me, is
                                        greater than all; no one can snatch them out
                                        of my Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."
                                                                            John 10:27-30


          Yes, we must continue in the faith, but since faith is a gift from God
     (Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 1:29), He will never turn us away.


                                       "No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.
                                        No one who continues to sin has either seen
                                        Him or known Him."

                                       "No one who is born of God will continue to sin,
                                        because God's seed remains in Him; he cannot go
                                        on sinning, because he has been born of God."
                                                                             John 3:6,9


          This does not mean sinless perfection, but the Christian should live a life that
     is characterized by obedience to God and His commands.  It is a life that
     is not characterized by sin.


          God, who has saved us, will carry our salvation through to the end.


                                       " ... He who began a good work in you will
                                         carry it on to completion until the day of
                                         Christ Jesus."
                                                                           Philippians 1:6b


          Once again, it is God who gives us strength to persevere to the end, and not
     our own power that helps us stay faithful.


                                       "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you
                                        will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus
                                        Christ.  God who has called you into fellowship
                                        with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."
                                                                           1 Corinthians 1:8-9


                                       "To Him who is able to keep you from falling
                                         and to present you before His glorious presence
                                         without fault and with great joy -- to the only
                                         God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and
                                         authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before
                                         all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.
                                                                            Jude 24-25


          

          "The true believer will persevere because of Christ's firm hold on him."
                                                                         NIV Commentary


                                        "(Jesus said), And this is the will of Him who sent me,
                                         that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but
                                         raise them up at the last day.
                                         For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the
                                         Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I
                                         will raise him up at the last day."
                                                                          John 6:39-40


          Paul testified that nothing can separate believers from God and His love.


                                        "For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
                                         neither angels nor demons, neither the present
                                         nor the future, nor any powers, neither height
                                         nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
                                         will be able to separate us from the love of God
                                         that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
                                                                             Romans 8:38-39